(TORONTO, ON) – Ontarians will only suffer if Campbell’s commission of inquiry leads to cuts in – and the privatization of – public services including in health, education, and child care. Although the commission’s report does not recommend cuts to services, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said today that Ontario is facing a $15-billion deficit that…
(TORONTO, ON) ─ By calling back the legislature in order to use the notwithstanding clause to force through the reduction of Toronto City Council, Doug Ford is undermining the courts and democracy for Toronto’s municipalities, and showing his disrespect for Ontario’s laws and Ontarians themselves. The court decision quashing Doug Ford’s plan to cut the…
(TORONTO, ON)– This Labour Day workers are coming together to protect the improvements that they won when Ontario updated its labour laws. In that update, workers won changes that improve working conditions across Ontario, including making it easier to join a union, providing two paid sick days, fairer scheduling laws, and a January 1, 2019…
This Labour Day, Ontario Federation of Secretary-Treasurer Patty Coates will be speaking in Thunder Bay. Ontario workers fought for and won long overdue improvements to Ontario’s labour and employment laws including paid sick days, fairer scheduling and equal pay for equal work provisions. Other victories included protections for workers engaged in a labour dispute, making…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 31, 2018 OFL President Chris Buckley to speak on Labour Day (TORONTO, ON) – This Labour Day, Ontario Federation of Labour President Chris Buckley will be speaking at a media event at the statue of Adam Beck at 8:45 a.m. “This Labour Day, we are sending a clear message to Doug…
The Ontario Federation of Labour is dismayed by the Ontario Government setting up a phone line with the express purpose of monitoring teachers providing instruction in the health and physical education curriculum for the 2018-2019 school year. “This phone line carries an implied threat to all education workers and shows the disrespect our government has…
Together, we made significant strides to raise the standard of work across the province. After 20 years of woefully outdated labour and employment laws, the Government of Ontario introduced the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act in 2017. This was a result of many hard-fought struggles and the collective voice of millions demanding immediate action to modernize the Employment Standards Act and…
The Ontario Federation of Labour mourns the passing of unionist, community organizer and activist Bromley Lloyd Armstrong. A member of the CAW, Armstrong was a leader in the Toronto Joint Committee on Human Rights in the 1950’s and fought racism his whole life. “Brother Armstrong’s contribution to anti-discrimination campaigns in Ontario have made our province…
Job Posting: Administrative Support/Reception The Ontario Federation of Labour is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it encourages those who have been historically disadvantaged with respect to employment to apply. Indigenous persons, persons of colour, persons with a disability, and persons who are gay, lesbian, two spirited and transgendered are encouraged to self-identify in the…
(Toronto, ON) – The Ford government’s reported move to privatizing the sale of cannabis can only hurt Ontarians. “Time and time again we have seen profitable publicly-owned businesses put into private hands with negative results. The private sale of cannabis will only reduce the potential revenue government can use to provide services to Ontarians. It…
(TORONTO, ON) ─ Premier Doug Ford’s proposal to cut the number of Toronto city counsellors from 47 to 25 only three months before the October 22 municipal elections ignores four years of consultation with the City of Toronto and undermines citizens’ access to representation. “The people of Ontario did not vote to have their voices…
(TORONTO, ON) – The Ontario government decision to pass back-to-work legislation for striking workers at York University undermines the rights of all Ontarians. The right to strike is protected under the Charter. “These educators were forced onto the picket lines because York University would not fulfill its responsibility to its workers,” said Ontario Federation of…
(TORONTO, ON) The Ontario Federation of Labour is concerned about the unnecessary and anecdotal “bulletproof vest” comments made in the Legislature, by Ontario’s Minister of Community Safety and Corrections Michael Tibollo. “I went out to Jane and Finch, put on a bulletproof vest, and spent 7 o’clock to 1 o’clock in the morning visiting sites…
National, Provincial and Territorial Labour Leaders encourage Canada’s Premiers to unite behind a universal, single-payer, public prescription drug coverage program. In addition to giving every Canadian access to life-saving prescriptions, a universal Pharmacare plan will free up money for much needed investment in healthcare. (SAINT ANDREWS, N.B.) During the Council of the Federation meeting in…
(TORONTO, ON) – In the face of looming back-to-work legislation and cuts that will erode public services and quality of life for Ontarians, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) vows to stand up for the hard-won rights of workers in this province. “Today’s Throne Speech delivered disappointing news for public services in Ontario. The question…
With the swearing-in of Ontario’s 42nd government and Premier Doug Ford’s appointment of his cabinet, the need for the advocacy provided by the Labour movement, on behalf of workers in our province, is clearer than ever. The OFL represents 54 unions and one million workers and champions the rights of all working people in Ontario,…
The Ontario Federation of Labour is disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees). As part of the global labour movement, the OFL knows that international solidarity is key to the work we do as a movement. In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court…
Every year since 1984, the OFL has inducted five new names of retired or deceased trade unionists into the OFL Labour Honour Roll. This prestigious recognition is intended to acknowledge the significant contributions of individual OFL members to the life and growth of the trade union movement in Ontario. It is also intended to inspire…